Ear-guard.



I. D. JAMES.

BAR GUARD. APPLIOATIONIILED JULY 12. 1906.

W/TA/ESSES: UWENTO/i THE uomus PETER! ca, \IAsI-uumon, n. c.

P'ATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIon.

ISAIAH D. JAMES, OF ROSELLE, NEW JERSEY.

EAR-GUARDi Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fil d 11113112. 1905. serial No. 269,287.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

ing in automobiles and other vehicles for protecting the ears from thecutting and other injurious effects of wind, rain, and dust; and one ofthe principal objects of the invention is to provide a device of thiskind which is simple in construction, as well as comparativelyinexpensive to manufacture, besides being thorou hly effective andreliable for its I urposes and possessing the capacity for ong andrepeated service.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantiallysuch as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming apart ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of ear-guards embodying myimprovements; and Fig. 2 is a part-sectional top plan view of one of theguards, showing the construction thereof more clearl as well as theapplication of the same to t e ear of the wearer of the guard.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated thatin the form of my improvements herein shown I employ an ear-guard ofspecial construction, having special means for retaining the same in thedesired angular relation to the side of the face for eflectiveoperation. The device is so constructed that while thoroughly protectingthe ear of'the wearer thereof from wind and rain and preventing theentrance of dust or dirt into the ear it also serves to convey ordinaryor nearby sounds to the auditory canal of the ear, so that no diflicultyis experienced by the wearer in carrying on ordinary conversation withother occupants of the vehicle in which he or she may be movmg.

Reference being had to the drawings by the designating, charactersthereon, l 1 represent reversely-disposed ear-guards of my improvements,each being of a construction corresponding to that of the other and thetwo being connected together by elastic or other form of chin-straps 2and 3, the latter bein preferably provided with a buckle 4, in

which the free end of the former is received and adjustably secured inthe manner shown. Each guard l is constructed of any suitable materialasa piece of bendable'or flexible metal 5, for instance, having a softcovering 6 of cloth or other suitable material, so as to present a neatappearance and not mar the skin of the face or ear of the wearer byscratching or otherwise. Said guard is bent to form a wing 7, which whenthe guard is applied in position before the ear 8, as

shown in Fig. 2, stands outwardly from the side 9 of the face at arearward inclination or angle, so as to deflect wind, rain, and dirtoutwardly in advance of the ear, thus preventing injury to the eartherefrom. The guard is also formed vertically at its inner edge portionwith a curved portion 10, the outer surface of the free side of whichwhen the guard is in position lies flatly against the side of the facejust before the ear for practically the full height of the latter. Thissemitubular bend is open at both ends, and hence ordinary sounds, as oftalking by one or more persons in the immediate vicinity of the wearerof the guard, will,in a measure, be conveyed to the auditory canal ofthe ear, and thus will no inconvenience b e exp erienced by the wearerin this respect.

The device is simple, easily applied and removed, and readily replacedby another when worn or broken.

To attach the guard in position upon the ear, any suitable means may beemployedsuch, for instance, as a hook12 for fitting partially over theupper portion of the ear, where it connects with the head of the wearer,said hook referably havin the shank thereof inserted between the bodyand covering of the guard at the upper part of the latter and secured inplace in any suitable way.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent An ear-guard, comprising a plate bent to form arelatively short portion for engaging the face in front of the ear, anda relatively name to this specification in the presence of long portiondiverging outwardly from the two subscribing Witnesses.

short ortion to form a shield the platebein provi ed with a soft cover,arid a hook on the ISAIAH JAMES 5 short portion for engaging above theear to re- Witnesses:

tain the guard in place. THOMAS H. AsHBY,

In testimony whereof I have signed my, THOMAS C. WOODY.

